Zero-setting mechanism



Feb. 6, 1951 A. HOLZNER ZERO SETTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1942 N WE.

14770iP/VEY Feb. 6, 1951 A. HOLZNER 2,540,619

ZERO SETTING MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTOIEWE Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ZERO-SETTING MECHANISM Adolf Holzner, New York, N. Y.

Application June 22, 1942, Serial No. 447,898

16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a zero setting mechanism for counters, and refers more particularly to counters of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,351,814 wherein the numerals to 9 are distributed over a pair of nested number wheels, the numerals on each inside wheel being visible through an opening in its respective outside wheel. The mechanism may also be used however in conventional counters having the numerals 0 to 9 distributed around each wheel.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means for setting an adding and subtracting counter to zero in one revolution of the zero setting shaft in either direction.

A further object is the provision of zerosetting means in which the zerosetting shaft may continue to revolve after zerosetting without causing revolution of the number wheels.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, there is provided an indexing pick up disk construction comprising a gear coupling which is part of the transfer mechanism of the counter, and which uncouples from the transfer mechanism for zerosetting.

An alternative construction is provided, comprising gap gears arranged as in my previous patents, 2,097,065; 2,117,168 and 2,180,590, and in which a novel means is provided for uncoupling the transfer and Geneva locking mechanism of the counter.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described. In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown four of the Various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section along the line ll of Figure 2 and partly broken away, of a counter embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of housing 0 of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of retainer plate 6, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of coupling gear 1, Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 is a plan view of indexing disk 5, Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a zerosetting construction of the gap gear type.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of another zer-osetting construction of the gap gear typ Figure 10 is a side elevation of the guide 54 and guided parts in section of shaft 30b on line iii-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view of a first or lowest order number wheel set for use with the construction of Figure 7.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1 and showing the invention applied to a counter with conventional 0 to 9 number wheels.

Figures 13 and 14 are front elevations of members illustrated in Figure 1 and looking leftward thereof.

Figures 15 and 16 are front elevations of looking discs 23, 24 of Figures 1, 13 and 14.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in Figure 3 is illustrated the rectangular housin 0 comprising integrally the plate 31 and peripheral flange 38, the latter relieved on one side by the opening 39 through which may be viewed the indicia of the number wheels A, B. An inwardly offset portion 33 of plate 31 constitutes a mounting for a stud 21 fastened thereto by screw 29. Plate 37 further is relieved by a substantially central hole 9 and by holes 34 adjacent its corners, through which holes 34 a plurality of bolts, not illustrated, may be passed to fasten together any desired number of housings c to constitute a counter. Stud 21 carries the rear plate 13 which extends substantially parallel to plate 32'.

The inner number wheel B carries the indicia 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 evenly distributed around its cylindrical circumf rence, and is fast on bushing 18, the latter being rotatably mounted on bushing 28 bushing 18 being located in rear plate 13. The cylindrical circumference of outer number wheel A surrounds number wheel B and is divided into six equal portions, one of which is completely relieved so as to provide an aperture through which the wheel B may be viewed, the other five portions exhibiting the indicia 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. Wheel A, flange 32, finger disk l9 and locking disk are fast on bushing 28.

Zero setting shaft is journaled in bushing 23, being supported along its length by a bushing 28 in each housing 0, the mechanism contained within each housing 0 being identical except as noted hereafter with respect to the rightmost housing of a counter, as for instance illustrated *1 :19 in the right half of Figure 1, said right side illustrating the wheels of the first set and lowest order, directly connected to the drive.

Finger disk I9 is a one toothed gear, and in the transferring position of the parts is axially coincident with and thus in position to mesh with gear 2i. Gear 3, star wheel 22 and gear 2! are fixed against rotation relative one to the other and are freely rotatable as a unit onspindle Ill which is rotatably journaled in plate 37 and rear plate I3 parallel to zero shaft 39. A gear 2 i-S fast on spindle I 9'. their locking disks 24, 25 are fast on spindle I I! in the relative positions illustrated in Figures 13; 14, 15 and 16.

The five toothed gear I l and its star wheel Mutilated gears I6, fl and" 26 are fast on bushing I8, thu locke'dto number gear at intervals of 36 degrees, the teeth I and L-being coincident angularly of shaft It and the other teeth bein 'espaced equally therearound so that the circle is divided into ten equal parts by.-the-eleven teeth of which two are: coincident as just mentioned. Eleven'triangular depressions or recesses I2 are "formedinthe circumferences ofthe lockingdisks'M, 23

angularly coincident with the'respective' teeth of gears I6, I'I.

Zero setting gear I is loose on shaft 38 for rotation and axially sliding.

formed with a hook 4 extending axiallyinwardly, the hook !3' being integral with gear 7' and-having its free-end pointing-radially outward from a point near the center of'the gear;

as illustrated in Figures 1 and-5.

Indexing disk '5, Figures land 6, is a one toothed gear faston shaft 3l-,*being slotted asat 5b so as to slip into transverse grooves 35 on shaf-tSIl and further comprising two deformable tips 36, which when pinched towards 'each other firmly fasten-the disk to-the shaft: The 'tooth 5a of disk-5 engage the hook 4 ofgear 2' for zerosetting. Disk 5 is at all :times locatedwithin the hollow interior of'gear I, being held there'- in bythe integral end wall of the gear and'by retainer plate-B which is secured on an internal shoulder of gear I by screws 53-,-'Figures l and-4.

Leaf spring 8, Figures '1 -and 2, extends upwardfrom stud 2? to a position between the teeth' of gear I, but spaced axially therefrom'in the illustrated transfer position of gear I.

The following mechanism is peculiar to the rightmost'housing c of a counter as viewed in Figure l; extend-s throug-h plate '31 and is freely rotatable on*shaft'-3I3.- Gear 58 isloose-on shaft I0-and engages gear 5Si;- Gear IB- in this housing is similar to-"gear i previously described, and gear 23 is identicalto-gear 2.- In the transfer position of the parts as illustrated, gear 1B engages both gears 23 and--58. All fourgears have ten teeth each.

Inoperation,-.;bushing 3I- is-connected to a driver-the revolutionsof which are to be counted. Bushing :lil drives gear-59, revolution-there of'being transmitted throughgearfiilto gear IB- and thence to gear 23 to drive the counter as Gear I is hollow cylindrical and has one integral end Wall portion Bushing 3i issecured to gear 59 and 4 will be described more particularly with reference to the left hand set of number wheels of Figure 1. For zerosetting the gear IB is displaced to the left until it is freed from gear 58, thus disconnecting the counter drive and permitting zerosetting as described hereafter with reference to the left hand set of Wheels.

In the left hand set, finger disk I9 of the right hand set, fast tothe right hand outside Wheel A, upon' making one complete revolution, actuates gear 21 through one tenth of a revolution. By reason of the conventional association of looking disk 2a with finger disk is and of star wheel 22 with 'gear"2l, the revolution of gear 2| is by steps each equal to one tenth of a revolution.

Gear 3 being fast to gear 2| and star wheel 22 revolves therewith'and drives zero gear I step by step,thelatter imparting step by step motion through gear 2 to shaft jIEl and thus to gears i6, i1 and locking disk 24,13 fast-on shaft I0.

Suppose the left hand set 'of' nested wheels A 'ar'id-B'to' be showing Zero, not illustrated. Re-

ferring; to Figures '13 and 14 in which the-gears of'gear I4 out of position bringing the I of-whee1= B'into'view' in the apertureof wheel A. The aperture remaining 111' indicating position as ex plained, tooth 2 ofgear I6" pushes tooth I of gear I4 'out'ofposition,bringing tooth 2 into indicating position as" illustrated. Tooth 5 of gear It being in advance of tooth 5 01 gear I4, as the driving tooth 5 moves awaytheinner' wheel Bremains locked with" its numeral 5 in indicatingposition but now hidden by the numeral" 6 of wheel Awhi'ch has moved into indicating position;

Forzemsttihg, the'shaft SHi's moved leftward'of Figure l, the'in'dexing'disk 5 first moves leftward within the interior'ofzero gear I' and then movesgearl leftward out of engagement with gear 3,-thus'-dis'conhecting the" counter drive. Gear I having been kept in "stepby step register by engagement 'with the counter as explained, before becoming completely disengaged therefrom htsfbebbrh'' el igag'e'd witli'spring" sd that zerosettihg actuation proceeding fr'or'n'it will also be step by step'and it will further always be'in register for reenga'g'eifient' with gear 3.- Tooth 5050f indexing disk 5* will now-pick up hook 4 of herogear 1' upon rotation-of'sha'ft 3!? in either direction and g'ar'i' were "lie the nested nuIn-' ber Wheels through the sae 'mecl'ianism'as for counting, it'being necessary "in'this forni of the invention to cease actuation of shaft 38 when zero shows in"apert'ure 39" if ze'lo's'etting'" is desired; as

the number Wheels will continue to rotate long as" shaft 3i3"is"rota'ted. The counter iS'reengaged by actuation of shaft 39 rightward'sof Fi'gure'l.

In Figures 7 and 8 is illustrated a modified'em bodiment of my invention, which has the additional advantage that the zerosetting shaft may be revolved after-zero has beenset, andthe number wheels will not rotate. The structure ab- As the sent from Figure '7 and necessary to an operative mechanism is identical to the structure of Figure 1. Corresponding parts have reference characters indicating their correspondence to Figure 1. A unit consisting of a gap gear 2a, a spacer 42, a gear Zia, another spacer 42 and a star wheel 22a has the aforesaid components fastened together and slidably mounted on the Square rod ma which is revolvably mounted by its cylindrical end portions Hlb in plate 3'! and plate [3. Finger disk I9a spacer 42 and looking disk Zila are secured to bushing 28. Finger disk 19a is therefore effective in the illustrated position to transfer a count to gear 2m.

The zero setting gap gear Ia and flange 44 are secured to shaft 39a as follows: flange 44 and gear Ea have radial slots 48, 41 respectively by which they may be shipped into transverse grooves 45 in shaft 30a from opposite directions and screwed together, thereby being fixed against both sliding and rotation relative to shaft 35!.

ears 2a and '!a each have nine teeth spaced 36 degrees apart, leaving in each gear a 36 degree gap. In the zero position of a set of nested number wheels, the gap of gear 2a lies on the line between the shaft centers of the gap gears. In any other position, gear 2a will be actuated by gear l'a when the latter is actuated for zerosetting, but in zero position gear fa will revolve in the gap of 2a without actuating the latter. The gap in gear la permits gear 2a to revolve during transfer operations. To set to zero, shaft 30a is moved leftward, thus causing flange 44 to move the unit on square rod a leftward, moving gear 2a into space 4! where it engages the spring 43, illustrated in Figure 8 only. Spring 48 is mounted on stud 49 mounted in any convenient place on housing 0.

Figure 11 illustrates a construction for the first or lowest order number wheel set of a counter according to Figures 7 and 8. The finger disk 19a, locking disk a, gear Zla and star wheel 22a of Figures '7 and 8 is each replaced by a ten toothed gear 3a. Disconnecting the drive for zerosetting is done by pushing the shaft a leftward, and the Zerosetting proceeds as in Figures '7 and 8.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another gap gear construction. A unit consisting of gear l9d, spacer 5i and locking disk 25d is keyed to bushing 2611 by the keys 5:: extending radially thereinto. Gear 1d and flange 44d are mounted on shaft 381), in this case with flange 44d at the left. Flange 44d engages a slot 53c of guide 54. The latter has a square hole by which it is slidably mounted on square rod 51 mounted on housing 0. The gears 2d, 21d, spacer 56, star wheel 22d and another spacer 56 are secured to square rod Hid. An arm 52 of guide 54 extends between finger disk 311 and locking disk 20d. When shaft 381) is pushed to the right of Figure 9, flange d takes along guide 54 and arm 52 moves the members Md, 5% and 26d up to hub 32, disengaging 12d and 26d from gear 21d and star wheel 22d respectively, and gear id is in line with gap gear 2d for zerosettin as in Figures 7 and 8. In Figure 12 the invention i shown applied to a counter having conventional number wheels K each of which has a full set of numerals 0 to 9 inclusive. The mechanism of this figure is most similar to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive. The spindle we has secured thereto a gear 12 in mesh with gear E3, the latter secured to bushing '18 to which wheel K is fast, the hub Tl, finger disk 15 and locking disk 16 also being secured to bushing 78. Gear H is loosely rotatable on shaft We and is fast to star wheel 10. Every revolution of finge disk '15 rotates gear H one tenth of a revolution, the gears 72 and H being coupled by the engagement of Zerogear 'ae with both during transfer.

For zerosetting in Figure 12, shaft 366 is moved leftwards, until gear 1e disengages gear H and zerosetting then takes place as in Figure 1. Spring 8a operates like spring 5 of Figure 1.

A further advantage of my construction is that when the zero setting shaft 30, 39a, 3912, or 306 is uncoupled, the individual wheels may be engaged by the finger of an operator and moved forward or backward without transferring of values.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter having a plurality of sets of nested number wheels and the numerals from 0 to 9 inclusive distributed around the nested wheels of each set and including a transfer mechanism and a Geneva locking mechanism, comprising means to operate said counter for addition when operated in one direction and for subtraction when operated in the reverse direction, and a means to disengage the transfer and. locking mechanism from the operating means for resetting the sets of nested number wheels to zero in either direction.

2. The combination of a counter including a plurality of sets of nested number wheels and a transfer mechanism with a Geneva locking means, and a means for resetting the sets of number wheels to zero after each operation, said counter operating for adding when operated in one direction and for subtraction when operated in the reverse direction.

3. In a zerosetting mechanism for a series of pairwise arranged, nested number wheels of counters, including a transfer mechanism, an indexing pick up mechanism including a gear coupling for uncoupling the transfer mechanism to independently return the series of pairwise arranged, nested number wheels to zero.

4. In a counter displaying on one wheel the numerals from 0 to 9, a hub for said wheel, a bushing and a finger disc associated with said hub, a stub shaft, and a comparatively wide gear on said stub shaft, a resetting shaft and a gear thereon in mesh with said wide gear, both gears having 10 teeth so that every time the finger disc engages the gear on the stub shaft the same makes of a revolution, said resetting shaft adapted to be pushed out to disengage the two gears and the zerosetting can take place when the resetting shaft is turned in either direction.

5. A driver for a counter with a series of number wheels including a transfer mechanism, a transfer shaft and a zero setting shaft, two gears on said transfer shaft, one operatively connected to the number wheel, and the other independently and freely rotating thereon, a drive gear in 'meshfiwith the gear independently rota-tington the transfer Y shaft, said drive gear being loose" on the 5 zero setting shaft'fandisaid zero settingshaft extending through the series of number wheels-, a gear located on' the-zero" setting shaft and in mesh with both gears. on the transfer shaft while the counter is in operation andzdisengaged from the independent gear onithe trans fer shaft while the zero setting ta'kes placeythus providing a means for uncouplingthe driver fromthe counter while 1 the zero setting mechanismfis in operation;

61' In a zero setting mechanism :for'a counter with a plui'ality of number-Wheels; each"number= wheel having" a: frame composed ofa pair of plates, a zero setting shaft, a shaft locatedipar allel to and abovethezer'o setting shaft and journaled in the'pairofplates, a gear oni said shaft indirect operation: with the: number wheel, anda unit on saidshaft" movable in longitudinal direction thereon, the said'unit comprising a gap;

gear; a fully toothed gear and a locking: disc, each number wheelprovided with a finger disc or mutilated gear and a locking cam, the finger disc ormutila'ted gear of one number wheel periodically in mesh' with 'the fully toothedgear on the next adjoining number wheel 'whilethe locking cam-'isr-in line with the locking disc duringthe transfer operation; anotheri gap gear secured to the zero shaft, and means thereon to disengage the fully toothed gear from the finger disc or mutilated gear and thelocking cam from the locking" disk and thegap gear on the zero setting shaft meshes with the gap gear of the unit, and yielding means for locking the unit to keep the number wheels in place and in alignment disengaging thatransfer gear from the finger disc' or mutilated" gear ofthe number wheel of:

the lower order upon movement" of the zerosetting shaft in a' longitudinal direction; and

for zerosetting by turning the ze'rosetting; shaft in' either direction forrestoring the number Wheels td zero setting through the gap gears of" the z to settingshafu and the'transfer shaftand yielding normally disengaged "from"said unitduring transfer operation, rendered oper ative during theresett-ing operation;

8. In a counter zerosettingfor' a=series of number wheels, a zercsetting shaft for all the number wheels, eachwheel having a frame includ ing a pair of plates, the number wheels held in" position against longitudinal displacement by the pair of plates, a spindle journaled in the.

pairof plates, parallel to the zerosetting shaft,- a zerosetting'gear freely turning on the zero setting shaft-two gears on-said spindle, and the zerosettin gear in: mesh with both spindle gears during the transfer operation, thezerosetting gear being disengaged from one of said gears during. the zerosettin operation but remaining. in steady mesh with the other of said spindle gears toturn the number- Wl'lEBlS to zero as described, and yielding means secured to the frame to engage the zerosettinggear While the .zerosetting operation is effective.

9. In, at-counter zerosetti ng mechanism for-a seiiieszi oiirtnumberwheels'a' aligned: on a common.

spindle including a transfer mechanism, a trans;

fer shaft foreachznumber wheel parallel to the; spindle, .a: gear; thereon, a transfer finger-disc or mutilated gear:- of the adjoining number wheel in alignment 'with the gear on the trans fer Shafti as. described, anda; meansfor disenagingr theitransfer gear fromthe finger disceor. mutilated gearin a longitudinal directioneach number wheel surrounding the-mechanism:

10. In a counter zerosettingmechanism for "a 1 series. of number. wheels aligned on ;.common.

spindle including a transfer mechanism, a transfer shaft for: each number wheel;-parallel'to the spindlena: gear thereon; at transferfinge r disc or mutilated gear: of the adjoining number Wheel in alignment with the gear'on. thevshaft," andfa meansfor disengaging thefinger disc or mutilated gearfrom: the gear on the transfer shaft in a longitudinal directio'neach number wheel surrounding the: mechanism;

ill: Ina counten the combination with a-series' of pairs of nested number wheelshaving the numbersfromil'to 9 distributedon each pai -of nested wheels as described, and a means for restoringall the pairs to zero position.

12. In a counterresetting mechanism, a series ofaligned pairs of nested number wheels, each pair comprising an operating shaft includingmeans to operate the nested numberwheels hav-- ingthe numerals fromO to-9 inclusive distributed on the nested wheels, and a means for 'zerosetting the nested wheels by turning the oper-= ating shaft' to its zero position in either direction, as described.

13. In a counterzero settingmechanismfora" series of number wheels'aligned on a, common spindle including a locking mechanism, a transfer shaft foreach number wheel parallel to the spindle; alocking cam thereon; adockihgdisc of the adjoining number Wheels in alignment'wit-h. the locking cam on the'shaft, and a means for disengaging the locking disc from the looking cam on the shaft in' a longitudinal direction each numberwheel surrounding the mechanism.

14. In a counter including. operating means fora series of pairs of'nested number-wheels having the numeralsfrom' 0 to9 inclusive" distribut'ed' on each pair of nested wheels andihaving a transfer mechanism and means for disengaging the operating means fromthe transfer mechanism to independentl return the series of nestedwheels to zero.

15'. In a counter Zeroset-ting" mechanism includiin a transfermechanism and lockingmechanism, a gear operative for the transfer operaition and also operative forthe zerosetting operationsa spindle parallel to said gear, two gears on said spindle, said first mentioned gear. being. in mcshwith both spindlegears during-the trans fer operation and disengaged from" one of said spindle gears during .zerosetting, thus providing means for disengaging. the transfer mechanism during zerosetting operation.

16. In a zerosettingv mechanism for counter Wheels includinga transfer and locking mechanism, a shaft passing through .all the counter wheels, a gap gear on said shaft, a second gap gear, said second gap -gear further being a transfe gear and being slidablysupported, and yielding means out of alignment with saidsecond gap gear during transfer operations, saidsec ondgap gear being slidable into engagement with said yielding means during zerosetting for step Number Name Date by step registering of said counter wheels. 1,144,478 Kennedy June 29, 1915 ADOLF HOLZNER. 1,215,219 Trinks Feb. 6, 1917 1,418,507 Wood June 6, 1922 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,492,362 Dorsey Apr, 29, 1924 The following references are of record in the 1,671,553 sheldrick May 1928 file of this patent: 2 i? ii 25,

, arre W. 13, UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,727,966 Dement Sept. 10, 1929 Number Name Date 10 1,919,511 Helgeby July 25, 1933 967,297 Allen Aug, 16, 1910 2, 17,168 Holzner May 10, 1938 967,829 Postans Aug. 16, 1910 2,1 ,495 Dahlberg Apr. 18, 1939 1,046,633 Oliver Dec. 10, 1912 2,279,456 Friden Apr. 14, 1942 1,054,363 Newell et a1 Feb. 25, 1913 ,351,814 Holzner June 20, 1944 1,095,832 Farrell May 5, 1914 15 

